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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-06 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressier called the Workshop of the City Commission to order at 10:20 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321. ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Debra Placko, Commissioner Marlon Bolton, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Julie Fishman were in attendance. Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and City Clerk Patricia A. Teufel. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance 1. Presentation to the Mayor and Commission Regarding The No More Tears Project by Board Chair Dr. Laura Finley. Dr. Finely said the No More Tears Project (NMT) is a not- for- profit organization that was founded by Somy Ali in 2007. The mission of NMT is to help people who have been victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Dr. Finley said no one in NMT draws a salary, they do not maintain an office and all donations go 100% to assisting the victims. NMT provides individualized treatment for the victims and their goal is to provide one stop assistance and not bounce people around. Dr. Finley said over the last nine years they have acquired a large network of providers and have helped 530 adults and 2,700 children. Dr. Finley responded to a few questions from the Commission. 2. Public Art Project Update: Public Art Administrator George Gadson and Public Art Committee Chair Tobey Archer appeared. Mr. Gadson gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mr. Gadson provided an update on the University Dr. Overpass Bridge Artwork project, the Significant Sculpture project at the Woodlands, the Inspiration Way Sculpture project, the Sunset Point Tot Lot Fence project and the Sunset Point Park Public Art project. Mr. Gadson talked about future art initiatives, proposed art for Districts 1 and 4, the Spontaneous Art Program and the Mural Art Program for the Sports Complex. Mr. Gadson and Ms. Archer responded to questions from the Commission throughout the presentation. 3. Discussion on District Level Initiatives: Financial Services Director Mark Mason appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Financial Services Director Mason said this is an outgrowth of a discussion at Strategic Planning and staff is looking for feedback from the Mayor and Commission. Commissioner Gomez asked how much of the $1,500 has actually been used and Financial Services Director Mason replied that over the last 5 or 6 years a majority of the Commission members have not used some of the money. Commissioner Gomez commented that if the funds were not utilized why increase the amount. Vice Mayor Placko noted that she used a good amount of her money for the COPS luncheon and will continue to do so in the future. Commissioner Gomez noted that she has used some Page 1 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING March 6, 2017 of the money for her Coffee with the Commissioner meetings and other times she pays for it out of her own money. Financial Services Director Mason went over the permitted uses that were contained in the December 22, 2016 memo and explained that if there is a desire to expand the uses that is what we need to discuss here. Commissioner Fishman stated that the makeup of the Commission has been changed and what has been done in the past many not be done in the future. The activity level of the Commission is going up and more outreach is being done and does not know what could come up in the future where they could use the additional funds. Commissioner Fishman said the Commission may want to look at raising the amount of money each Commission member is given. Commissioner Bolton said he has already spent most of the $1,500 already because he does so many things in the community and wants to continue to reach out to the residents so they feel included and are receiving some level of attention. Commissioner Bolton stated that he believes the amount should be increased. Commissioner Bolton talked about some of the things he has been doing in his community and that he would like to do more like hiring an ice cream truck in order to distribute ice cream to the children. Commissioner Bolton said the people who want to do more are being stifled. Commissioner Bolton said if some of the Commission members don't want to spend their money that is fine but don stifle people who do use it. There was a discussion between Commissioner Bolton and Commissioner Gomez regarding spending the money and the perception of the people. Mayor Dressler said he feels there are ethical issues that have to be dealt with and if you paid attention during ethics training you would understand that there are gray areas for us to avoid. Mayor Dressler said what we do can be a problem as people will look at what you spend when you go for re-election. Someone can nail you for what you spend and the appearance of buying votes. Mayor Dressler said it might be prudent to ask for an objective legal opinion from the City Attorney's Office. Mayor Dressler said he doesn't want to deny Commissioner Bolton doing things in his community but wants to make sure it is done properly. Mayor Dressler asked the Commission to think about what you want do. Mayor Dressler asked staff to identify what can be done as he does not want something to come back and adversely affect the Commission. Mayor Dressler said if the amount of funds is increased and he doesn't use it he could still be criticized. City Attorney Goren said if the Commission were to increase the amount of money the Commission would have to take the appropriate action to approve it and there will have to be some clarification of the uses. Mayor Dressler said we need to get a sense from the Commission of what we have to identify as additional uses of the money. Commissioner Bolton said he is not thinking about what will happen in four years and who will vote for him and what he does he does out of the goodness of his heart as he wants to give people good vibes whether or not they voted for him. Mayor Dressler said what you do impacts on the rest of the Commission and what we do impacts on you and the City. Mayor Dressler said he is looking for clarification on what you could do without getting you or anybody else into trouble. City Attorney Goren said that to the extent that you have asked for a legal opinion or memorandum regarding the expenditure of public money for municipal or public purposes it is fact driven. City Attorney Goren said just to suggest spending money on Page 2 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING March 6, 2017 a global set of items is not how we do Legal Opinions and Safe Harbor Opinions. Mayor Dressler asked for a Legal Opinion regarding if it is okay if Commissioner Bolton can go out with an ice cream truck and the City pays for it in one District. City Attorney Goren said because those facts alone may not be sufficient to answer the question. Those facts coupled with other activities connected to Commissioner Bolton's public actions or yours may matter in the context of how I would look at that Opinion. City Manager Cernech said both staff and the City have a good sense of where you are going and the whole issue needs to be a little better defined. City Manager Cernech asked for time for staff and the City Attorney to sit down and talk about this with Financial Services Director Mason and come back to you with a more specific proposal. City Attorney Goren said he will be happy to work with Administration on this. Mayor Dressler asked for a consensus from the Commission to have staff come back with a more specific proposal, all were in agreement except for Commissioner Bolton. 4. TR12912 - In -Kind and In Cash Support and Waiver of Fees - Tamarac Chamber of Commerce Arts & Crafts Festival: Item No. 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda. (TR112912) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving a request from the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce for in -kind and in cash support and to waive fees for the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce 2017 Arts & Crafts Festival to be held in and around the Tamarac Community Center, along 57th Street, Saturday -Sunday, April 1-2, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in an amount of approximately $12,950; providing for permits, proper insurance, execution of a hold harmless agreement, and an executed lease agreement; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Parks & Recreation Director Greg Warner and Tamarac Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Peter Mason appeared. Parks & Recreation Director Warner said the Resolution is to approve a request from the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce to provide in -kind, in cash support and waiver of fees for the 2"d Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in the amount of $12,950. Parks & Recreation Director Warner went over a list of the support items that the City would be providing. Mr. Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's office. Mr. Mason responded to a few questions from the Commission. 5. TR12905 - Execution of Agreement with Murphy Pipeline Contractors, Inc. for the University Drive Water Main Upgrade Project (Pipe Bursting) Item No. 6 (c) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12905) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a Purchase Order Agreement between the City of Tamarac and Murphy Pipeline Contractors, Inc. utilizing pricing from an agreement obtained through a formal competitive process by the Allied States Cooperative, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 19, RFP Number 13-6903 for an amount not to exceed, $933,598.60 for the replacement of 4,059 linear feet of water pipe together along with 22 existing fire hydrants and 3 new fire hydrants on the east side of University Drive from NW 77th Street to Southgate Boulevard; a contingency of 10% or $93,359.86 will be added to the project account for a total amount of $1,026,958.46 authorizing the appropriate City Officials to administer the contract; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Public Services Director Jack Strain and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Keith Glatz appeared. Public Services Director Strain Page 3 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING March 6, 2017 gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Public Services Director Strain responded to a few questions from the Commission. 6. TR12914 - Opposition to Removing Federal Tax Exempt Status to Municipal Bond Interest: Item No. 6 (a) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12914) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida opposing any effort to reduce or repeal the federal tax exemption on interest earned from municipal bonds, authorizing the Mayor to execute a letter in support of maintaining the present tax exempt status of municipal bonds; authorizing the delivery of this resolution and letter to the Florida Delegation to Congress and to Senators Nelson and Rubio; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Financial Services Director Mark Mason appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mayor Dressler said this is not just about municipalities and given the infrastructure crises in this country it would be devastating to the taxpayers in the community. 7. Other Business There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration, Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:21 p.m. Patricia Teufel, CM City Clerk Page 4 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING March 6, 2017